The Big Preview: Bikeline Two-Day

A gleaming bunch of one hundred and twenty riders get the Premier Calendar underway with the Bikeline Two-Day in North Wales this weekend [March14-15].

Recent events concerning the Premier Calendar ? the cancellation of both the Archer GP and Tour of Wessex, and scaling down of the Chas Messenger ? threatened to overshadow the racing, but it looks like we now have 11 quality races between March and August to decide who wins the series.

This is the third year of Premier Calendar status for the three-stage event. 2008 winner Dean Downing returns to defend his crown at the head of the eight-man Rapha-Condor squad having recovered from the broken collarbone and head wound sustained in a training crash in Spain.

?I?ve just come back from Girona in Spain, doing my first road training after getting off the turbo,? Downing told Cycling Weekly. ?It was a nice feeling to get back on the road, that?s for sure, after three weeks of turbo.

?I will be a bit nervous when I get back on the start line, but everybody?s in the same boat, although a few of the guys will have raced already. I will just be wondering how I?m going.?

All eyes will be on brother Russell (CandiTV-Pinarello), whose hopes of victory last year were dashed by mechanicals on the final stage, but who went on to win seven out of 10 Premier Calendar races.

Ian Wilkinson, now with Halfords Bikehut, powered up the undulating prologue course last year into a howling wind to pull on the leader?s jersey, and took the final stage for good measure. With team captain Rob Hayles also raring to go, Halfords could be the team to watch this weekend.

?We have got a 120-man field with all the big names. Chris Newton is the only one I can think of who is not down to race. I have had to return about 40 entries. It was a difficult decision to make.

?It is the usual format of prologue, road stage, then Sunday is rolling with a big climb towards the finish. We hit the climb at the Bulk on Sunday with about 16 miles to go and that?s where it usually splits up.?

?John Herety wound me up, saying I was rubbish at time trials, so I thought ?I?ll show you?, and I got second. And then three of us [Rapha Condor] got in the break in the afternoon stage, and I got third and the leader?s jersey.

“The team rode the whole day on the front on Sunday and kept the break at bay. Kristian House sat on the front and did a real good job on the climb. It all worked out pretty good and I cruised across the line with the help of the team. The team were fantastic last year.?

CW?S SUPER TEAM CHALLENGE

Yes, the hugely popular Super Team Challenge is back ? well, we like it, anyway. It?s bigger and better, with more points on offer and a chance for those up-and-coming smaller outfits to put the big boys? noses out of joint and give them a right good seeing-to.

Will Russell Downing put Pinarello out of reach again? Can Rapha add some substance to their style? Can Plowmans win anything? Is a bigger Halfords necessarily better? And can Sports Beans get a foot on the podium, or will they be trampled underfoot and squashed like a discarded jelly baby?

Stay tuned to find out who wins the biggest prize in domestic racing – we’re not sure what it is yet, but it is bound to be huge. Or quite big. Or of sentimental value, at least…
2008 final standings
1. Candi TV-Pinarello 111pts
2. Rapha-Condor-Recycling 49pts
3. Halfords Bikehut 48pts
4. 100% ME 14pts
5. Plowman Craven 12pts

TOP MAN AWARD

The expert panel here at CW towers will present the ?Top Man Award? to the one rider who, in the eyes of the judges, lights up the race.

Long solo breaks, selfless acts of heroism, spectacular somersaults into the hedgerow and multiple mechanical failures will all be considered.

Despite the title, this prestigious award is not sponsored by a high street clothing retailer. We do a have a surfeit of energy products kicking round the office, though, so may be able to dig out a Power Bar for the winner. Emotional acceptance speeches in the style of Kate Winslet will not be required.

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